WWE’s Extreme Rules Continues the Passing of the Torches

What happened last night at Extreme Rules? Four titles changed hands. This is actually a little interesting because I’m sure that doesn’t happen too often. We’ve seen plenty of Pay-Per-Views where the top two titles (WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship) will change hands but not two more for a total of four.

The one that concerns me is Batista taking down Randy Orton for his WWE Championship. Orton is somewhat of a transitional champ. He isn’t really defending his title against numerous opponents, but rather, keeps defending it against the same guys in each stint and then eventually loses to one of them. That just continues to make his character look like a bickering baby who should have never been champion in the first place. Plus, Batista is a meathead.

I am very interested in the Smackdown decision. This is not because CM Punk cashed in his MITB, and although I am quoted as saying I would love to see CM Punk cash it in and perhaps have Umaga run down and Samoan drop him so that he loses his opportunity anyway, (and that sadly can never happen because Umaga was released today for reasons undisclosed), I am actually happy with this result. One reason… a face player cheap-shotted another face player. That could lead to some very good intrigue.

As for the intercontinental title, I do not care much. That title has always changed hands frequently, and it’s good to see two main eventers competing for it. I am also happy for Tommy Dreamer. I guess you could say his hard work paid off, but it also seems like a “pat-on-the-back” pension plan for a loyal old dog.

I really liked Tommy Dreamer’s effort in the ring and thought of him as the best jobber (perhaps undeservedly so) in the business. I’ll miss him.

Extreme Rules Outlook – Seems Somewhat Bland

This year’s One Night Stand, which has been preposterously renamed to “Extreme Rules,” seems to feature a bunch of matches with extra stipulations under the cover of an “Extreme” labeling (although nothing was worse than renaming John Cena’s “FU” to the “Attitude Adjustment”).

The matches include WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. Batista in a steel cage, Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho in a no holds barred match, World Heavyweight Champion Edge vs. Jeff Hardy in a ladder match, Miss Wrestlemania Santina Marella vs. Vickie Guererro in a hog pen match, John Cena vs. Big Show in a submission match, CM Punk vs. Umaga in a Samoan strap match, and ECW Champion Christian vs. Jack Swagger, vs. Tommy Dreamer in a triple threat hardcore rules match.

Of all these matches, only no holds barred and the hardcore triple threat are truly extreme. I think in honor of Tommy Dreamer the latter ought to be the main event of the night. I doubt it will be though. I also am not too happy with the send-off for Dreamer being a triple threat. Let the guy go toe-to-toe with one man for his final bout. If you want to create real drama, have it be against another good guy… Christian (like Ric Flair’s final match against Shawn Michaels).

If you want to get old ECW fans interested (because I doubt they’ll truly ever be won over), don’t cop out of going over the edge with a bunch of rare matchup stipulations being held under an old ECW card. Oh well.